Response to public health emergencies requires coordination across multiple sectors and effective use of existing resources in communities. With the expanded role of community pharmacists in public health during the past decade, their participation in response to emergencies has become increasingly important. Local health departments play a lead role in local public health emergency responses, and their ability to develop and leverage partnerships has become increasingly vital given their funding and personnel shortages. This article offers insight and recommendations on how local health departments can most effectively develop and maintain relationships with community pharmacies and pharmacists that will allow for a more coordinated and resourceful public health response to emergencies, and speciﬁcally to pandemic inﬂuenza outbreaks. Additionally, state and local health departments should reach out to pharmacies in a synchronized way to incorporate them into their pandemic inﬂuenza planning and response efforts. As pharmacists continue to expand their role as part of the public health system, pharmacy staff can be active participants with public health agencies to improve community public health emergency response.

About Sara Rubin

Sara Rubin serves as a Senior Program Analyst for Pandemic and Catastrophic Preparedness at NACCHO. Her work includes broadening access to medical care during influenza pandemics, exploring the role of pharmacists in public health emergencies, and exploring mhealth applications for public health. Twitter: @SaraRubin

SITREP As of December 11, there are multiple active wildfires throughout southern California, primarily located in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The National Weather Service has warned of damaging wind gusts which have the potential to lead to rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity. The Governor of California has declared Read more →

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released an issue brief titled Public Health in Puerto Rico after Hurrican Maria. The brief draws on federal and Puerto Rican government statistics and official statements and media reports to provide a snapshot of public health challenges in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Below is Read more →

Addressing the needs of electricity-dependent community members can be challenging for any health department, a fact that is most striking during a public health emergency. To address this problem, the Broome County Health Department in New York utilized the tools of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) emPOWER Initiative, developed by the Office […]